CMA Awards preview
Posted by Lorrie LynchOur Dennis McCafferty, resident country music expert for USA WEEKEND, is headed to Nashville for this year's Country Music Association Awards. He was our man on the ground last year, with tons of inside scoop and great interviews. I'll let him tell you what to look forward to this year, and be sure to click on read more below to get his picks for who the big winners will be. And keep checking back daily for his reports from the country music capital.
“I’m heading to the CMA Awards for the third year in a row, and you can bet that I’ll be looking to give some juicy blog feeds from the moment my plane touches down in Nashville. Is it possible not to have a great time in this town this week? It’s like Super Bowl week. Everyone is here — country stars, rock stars, ABC primetime and even soap stars. Two years ago, I was getting ribs in line with two stars from General Hospital at a downtown cafeteria-style restaurant. The fun starts with a Tuesday afternoon concert from 4 to 7 pm including Rodney Atkins and Kevin Costner, who — as we told you last week —is doing country these days. Then, Wednesday morning is the traditional open-air concert for Good Morning America — this year it's Miley and Billy Ray Cyrus (at left). Then the red carpet fun begins around 4:30 pm.
The carpet should be star-studded this year. Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, costars in the upcoming film Australia, are presenting. Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood are hosting. Kenny Chesney is performing with the Wailers, and so are the Eagles, Kid Rock, Alan Jackson, Darius Rucker, George Strait, Taylor Swift, Keith Urban and a bunch of others. Miley and Billy Ray Cyrus are presenting in addition to their GMA concert duties, along with Reese Witherspoon and other huge stars. The CMA folks also promise a couple of good ‘surprises.’ Can’t wait to know!"
As for the nominees, here’s my take on things:
Enter
tainer of the Year
* Kenny Chesney
* Brad Paisley
* George Strait
* Sugarland
* Keith Urban
Hey, I love Kenny’s new album. It’s a bit quieter than his usual stuff. But it’s time for someone else to get this award, and I say Brad Paisley. He’s one of the best guitarists in any genre, and his last two albums have been packed with great songwriting, hits and great production.
Fem
ale Vocalist of the Year
* Alison Krauss
* Miranda Lambert
* Martina McBride
* Taylor Swift
* Carrie Underwood
Taylor Swift, our cover girl for the CMT Awards this past year, should get it. She’s on a huge roll and her latest album is getting raves. Just doesn’t look like the It Girl of the moment can be stopped. Nor SHOULD she be stopped.
Male Vocalist of the Year
* Kenny Chesney
* Alan Jackson
* Brad Paisley
* George Strait
* Keith Urban
There’s been whispering that Strait’s latest is a goodbye, as he’s spoken of retirement. But I don’t believe it for a second. Strait’s music is fresher than ever. His production work is aging better with time. Still, the retirement talk may be enough to earn him another one of these.
New Artist of the Year
* Jason Aldean
* Rodney Atkins
* Lady Antebellum
* James Otto
* Kellie Pickler
Lady Antebellum has been building up great buzz in the last year. Kellie Pickler will be tough to beat though. I’ll go with Kellie here, given her crossover star appeal.
Vocal Group of the Year
* Eagles
* Emerson Drive
* Lady Antebellum
* Little Big Town
* Rascal Flatts
Our cover boys, Flatts, have been dominating this category and there’s no reason that they won’t get this one again.
Vocal Duo of the Year
* Big & Rich
* Brooks & Dunn
* Montgomery Gentry
* Sugarland
* The Wreckers
Sugarland just took away the crown here last year from Brooks and Dunn, and the duo’s new album is terrific, so I’ll go with Sugarland here again.
Single of the Year (Award goes to Artist and Producer)
* Don’t Blink
Kenny Chesney
Produced by Buddy Cannon and Kenny Chesney
BNA Records
* Gunpowder & Lead
Miranda Lambert
Produced by Frank Liddell and Mike Wrucke
Columbia Records
* I Saw God Today
George Strait
Produced by Tony Brown and George Strait
MCA Nashville
* Stay
Sugarland
Produced by Byron Gallimore, Kristian Bush and Jennifer Nettles
Mercury Nashville
* You’re Gonna Miss This
Trace Adkins
Produced by Frank Rogers
Capitol Records Nashville
I Saw God Today hit all the right notes. Stay is more of a great, emotional vocal performance. I’ll go with God, because it conveys a sense of melodic hook along with a spiritual message that anyone could appreciate.
Album of the Year (Award goes to Artist and Producer)
* Carnival Ride
Carrie Underwood
Produced by Mark Bright
19 Records Limited/Arista Nashville
* Cowboy Town
Brooks & Dunn
Produced by Kix Brooks, Tony Brown, Ronnie Dunn and Bob DiPiero
Arista Nashville
* Good Time
Alan Jackson
Produced by Keith Stegall
Arista Nashville
* Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates
Kenny Chesney
Produced by Buddy Cannon and Kenny Chesney
BNA Records
* Troubadour
George Strait
Produced by Tony Brown and George Strait
MCA Nashville
Troubadour is a great addition to Strait’s work, but doesn’t seem to be getting the same buzz as his winner from last year, It Just Comes Natural. I’ll go with Chesney on this one, but don’t be surprised if Carrie Underwood gets her due here.
Song of the Year (Award goes to Songwriter and Primary Publisher)
* Good Time
Alan Jackson
EMI-April Music/Tri-Angels Music
* I Saw God Today
Rodney Clawson/Monty Criswell/Wade Kirby
Big Red Toe/Extremely Loud Music/Steel Wheels Music/Blind Mule Music
* Letter To Me
Brad Paisley
EMI-April Music/Sea Gayle Music
* Stay
Jennifer Nettles
Jennifer Nettles Publishing
* You’re Gonna Miss This
Ashley Gorley/Lee Thomas Miller
EMI Blackwood Music/Songs of Combustion/Sea Gayle Music
We love Stay and God. But Letter to Me is just a sweet, choke-you-up song that Brad does so well when he’s not playing for laughs, as with Alcohol and Online. We’ll root for Letter to win, but don’t be surprised if God or Stay get the hardware.
Musical Event of the Year (Award to each Artist)
* Josh Turner featuring Trisha Yearwood
Another Try
MCA Nashville
* Reba McEntire and Kenny Chesney
Every Other Weekend
MCA Nashville
* Robert Plant and Alison Krauss
Gone Gone Gone
Rounder Records
* Sugarland featuring Little Big Town and Jake Owen
Life In A Northern Town
Mercury Nashville
* Kenny Chesney (duet with George Strait)
Shiftwork
BNA Records
Plant and Krauss’ collaboration were highly praised by every major critic out there, it seems. They had a huge tour together too. If that’s not an ‘event,’ what is?
(photos, from top to bottom, by Eileen Blass/USA TODAY, Eileen Blass/USA TODAY, Robert Deutsch/USA TODAY, Donald Lesko, Robert Deutsch/USA TODAY, Robert Deutsch/USA TODAY)
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